While the Eagles have been rooted to the bottom of the table for much of the season, the Lions’ loss to Melbourne sunk them to 15th and just a win clear of the spoon.
They will also be without full-forward Brendan Fevola (groin) and Xavier Clarke (hamstring) after both were injured against the Demons.
While the Lions suffered on Saturday night, across the other side of the country the Eagles were faring no better, be pumped by 74 points by arch-rivals Fremantle.
The teams met in round one and the Lions struggled early but eventually got the premiership points with a 114-82 win.
Forward scout: West Coast Eagles
2010 to date: Not much was expected of the Eagles this season and that’s what they’ve delivered. They were competitive in the early rounds and won three of their first eight, but since then it’s been a struggle to say the least. Their only win in the last 10 came against Essendon when Mark LeCras’ freak 12-goal effort carried them over the line. Other than Sunday’s blowout loss to Fremantle, West Coast have been more than competitive at Subiaco. But the bottom line is they are 4-14 and currently on the bottom of the league.
The coach: In his nine years at the helm of the Eagles, John Worsfold has just about seen it all. After a distinguished career as a two-time premiership player, Woosha took the reigns in 2002. He has coached more than 200 games, winning just over half of them, and became the fourth person to captain and coach the same club to premierships when he spearheaded the Eagles’ 2006 triumph. Worsfold is composed and calculated and began moving with the times last season by changing from man-on-man to zone defence. He has the respect of his players, which is the most he can ask in the midst of one of his most difficult seasons in charge.
The gun: In a team that has struggled terribly, small forward Mark LeCras has been a sensation. He was dead set unlucky to miss All-Australian selection last season with his 58 goals and he’s making certain he won’t miss this year. Kicked a phenomenal 12 goals against Essendon three weeks ago and has 58 in 17 for the season. Is strong above head, quick on the ground and can kick accurately off both feet. A tough match-up.
The sleeper: With no Daniel Kerr to lead the midfield, Matt Priddis has been a model of consistency this season. He was strong in 2009 and has backed it up without missing a game in 2010. Priddis has a high work rate and hunger for the ball that has seen him rack up 30 or more touches in seven matches. He runs hard and is usually a barometer for the Eagles.
The bolter: Big things were expected of Nic Natanui this season but the youngster has really had a tough time of it. He burst on to the scene last year with a match-winning performance against Hawthorn in just his second game, but opposition teams have quickly woken up to the 20-year-old. However he has a leap and freakish natural ability that can turn a game in a quarter and his defensive pressure is also a feature.
Strengths: West Coast is a predominantly young team and with youth comes enthusiasm. If the Eagles get an early sniff, their running midfielders tend to find legs and use the vast Subiaco expanses effectively. With LeCras leading the forward line they have weapons that can kick a winning score with Josh Kennedy as a trusty sidekick.
Weaknesses: On the flipside of enthusiasm comes inconsistency. The Eagles have shown on more than one occasion this season that if they get behind they can wilt quickly. The midfield does not consistently win the hard ball - which is just as well for the struggling Lions - and the back six have found it difficult to stop the flood of possession comes into the defensive 50m zone. Like most matches, if the Lions can win enough contested ball, they should create enough chances and win.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
